He was born in Poland and did undergraduate studies at the University of Cracow where he first became interested in astronomy, which at the time was in the field of mathematics. He called astronomy the "most beautiful and most worth knowing." He later obtained a degree in Canon Law at the University of Bologna in Italy while he also continued to study mathematics and astronomy. Here he met scholars who challenged Aristotle's geocentric cosmology.

While at the University of Bologna, he was officially installed as a Catholic canon (ecclesiastical administrator) on October, 20 1497. In 1500 Copernicus visited Rome, as all Christians were strongly encouraged to do to celebrate the great jubilee, and he stayed there for a year lecturing to scholars on mathematics and astronomy. Copernicus was later granted leave from his duties as a canon to return to Italy to study medicine at the University of Padua. Afterwards he decided to complete his Doctorate of Canon Law, but rather than return to Bologna he took the degree from the University of Ferrara.

Copernican Views on Astronomy

Diagram of the Copernican system, from De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium ("On the Revolutions of the Celestial Orbs"), published in Nuremberg in 1543.

His views on astronomy were in stark contrast to those of the period, which held that the earth was at the center of the universe (geocentrism). Around 1514 he distributed a little hand written book to a few of his friends called Commentariolus (usually called the Little Commentary), which set out Copernicus's theory of a universe with the sun at its center (heliocentric).

The distance from the Earth to the sun is imperceptible compared with the distance to the stars.

The rotation of the Earth accounts for the apparent daily rotation of the stars.

The apparent annual cycle of movements of the sun is caused by the Earth revolving round it.

The apparent retrograde motion of the planets is caused by the motion of the Earth from which one observes.

In 1514, Copernicus began working on his major work, De Revolutionibus, which asserted that the earth rotated on its axis once daily and traveled around the sun once each year. Copernicus was not the first to make this proposal, but his book gave the concept strong mathematical support. His book was slow to reach the state where he wished to see it published, which ultimately did not occur until the year of his death. The Copernican model was later reinforced by Galileo Galilei, and Johannes Kepler.

Despite the controversial nature of his view, Copernicus was able to maintain his position as a canon and served his church faithfully for 40 years, but never pursued ordination for the priesthood.